Franciscus van Assisi in meditatie 1620 - 1686

Curator: What strikes me immediately is the stark, contemplative atmosphere in this engraving; the fine lines really emphasize the play of light and shadow. It’s an image brimming with introspection. Editor: Agreed. Looking at Gilles Rousselet’s “Franciscus van Assisi in meditatie,” dating from 1620 to 1686 and held at the Rijksmuseum, I’m fascinated by how the engraving process itself informs the overall mood. Consider the labor involved in creating this image—the sheer dedication required to carve these intricate details, the way the tool is pressed into the plate… it mirrors Francis’s own ascetic dedication. Curator: Absolutely. The meticulous nature of the engraving parallels the saint’s own commitment to spiritual discipline. See how Rousselet captures Francis in deep communion with a skull, a clear *vanitas* symbol, with a crucifix almost secreted away in the shadows behind him? It speaks to mortality, of course, but also to a yearning for transcendence, as though meditating upon the bones is key to understanding eternal life. I think it beautifully captures the essence of Baroque art—melding drama with spiritual contemplation. Editor: I agree that the skull immediately signifies vanity, and it does more than that to me, honestly. Beyond the *vanitas*, the artist used the readily available bones for creating his drawings—engraving demanded a profound engagement with one's tools and materials. Do you agree? Curator: Yes, a material engagement, if I may say. Thinking about our own mortality is such a corporeal experience. It’s really driven home here by the physicality of the engraving process—that engagement of tool and mind to capture not only what we see, but what we *feel*. I sense Rousselet deeply pondering not only St. Francis’s devotion, but what the idea of devotion means for himself too. Editor: It seems like a rather profound and humbling occupation. Curator: Exactly. One can practically feel the weight of spiritual introspection pressing down as he worked. It is not just Francis we contemplate here. It is how devotion materializes through artistic labour, a meeting of spirit and earth. Editor: I will keep this thought in mind as I consider this image of the saint from now on. Thanks.